Following the introduction of the A3 Sedan, Audi is expanding the A3 compact family in the U.S. with the A3 TDI Sportback, which will launch in summer 2015. Making its debut at the New York Auto Show, the Audi A3 TDI Sportback is powered by the latest generation 2.0-liter TDI clean diesel engine mated to a standard 6-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

The 150hp engine is shared with the updated 2015 VW Jetta, on which it produces 236 lb-ft of torque (320 Nm) from 1,750 rpm up to 3,000 rpm. Audi did not offer fuel economy figures for the A3 TDI Sportback, but they should not be too far off the Jetta’s 37 mpg (6.35 l/100 km) on the combined cycle.

The A3 TDI Sportback will join the newly launched A3 family, which over the next 18 months will add to the A3 Sedan the A3 Cabriolet, A3 TDI clean diesel sedan, S3 Sedan and the A3 Sportback e-tron gasoline electric hybrid (PHEV).

Audi has first introduced diesel engines in the U.S. in 2009, and has sold more than 37,500 TDI vehicles ever since. Currently there are five 2014 models available with TDI engines, including the A6, A7, A8 L, Q5, and Q7. Later this year, Audi will also introduce the A3 TDI sedan in the U.S.

Audi says its TDI engines are on average 30 percent more economical than their gasoline counterparts, based on EPA fuel economy estimates. Diesel engines also emit lower quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere than comparable gasoline vehicles.

By Dan Mihalascu

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